What was finished? We have to understand Jesus’ stated purpose to understand what he accomplished.
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture would be fulfilled, said, “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. Therefore, when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
(John 19:28-30)
People present this verse to me as a proof-text that Jesus “finished the Law” or “finished the Old Testament” on the cross. Their reasoning is the passage states everything was accomplished and Jesus proclaimed it was all finished. Out of this interpretation, the following argument is given:
P1 Jesus knew all was finished
P2 Jesus said it is finished
C1 Therefore, the Old Testament Law and Prophets are finished; and, nobody is bound by (or, under) the Old Testament anymore.
The problem with this interpretation of John 19:28-30 is it ignores all the Messianic prophecies that were not fulfilled in the First Century and are still not fulfilled today.
Jewish Rejection of Jesus
This is a point of contention among modern Jews who reject Jesus as Messiah. Devout members of Judaism counter-argue that Jesus actually did not fulfill many of the Messianic Prophecies recorded in the Tanakh (Old Testament). For example:
1. The coming Day of the Lord has not happened. The wicked have not been consumed in His fire, and the righteous have not been purified to serve God as a kingdom of priests.
2. The people of God have not been re-gathered to the promised land from the four corners of the world.
3. The enemies of God have not been put down.
4. The Messianic Kingdom has not been established under the righteous rule of Torah. Messiah has not established his throne, ruled with a rod of iron.
5. We have not entered the age of universal peace where there will be no more suffering.
6. All people, from all nations, do not know God. We are not in a position where nobody needs to be taught because everyone already knows God.
7. The third temple has not been built.
Clearly, there are numerous prophecies given in the “Old Testament” that have not been fulfilled. These things were not finished as of the time Jesus was crucified and declared, “It is finished!” For this reason, many Jews today reject Jesus as Messiah. The argument is structured as follows:
P1 Christians present Jesus as Messiah
P2 The Christian argument is that Jesus fulfilled everything in the The Law and The Prophets
P3 But, there are clearly many prophecies given by God that have not been fulfilled yet.
P4 And, the Messiah must fulfill all the Messianic prophecies in order to be the true anointed one of God
C1 Therefore, because Jesus did not accomplish everything the prophets said Messiah would do, he cannot be Messiah. And, the Christian presentation of Jesus as Messiah cannot be true.
So, What was Finished?
John 19:28-30 clearly cannot mean that literally everything written in the “Old Testament” was finished in the First Century. Anyone who studies and understands the “Old Testament” knows there are prophecies still to be fulfilled. The interpretation that “It is finished” means everything left of Matthew is now terminated cannot be an accurate interpretation of the passage.
So, what was finished on the cross?
Jesus’ first-coming was for one specific purpose: To bear the penalty of sin on mankind’s behalf and pay that penalty by sacrificing himself in our place. And that is what was finished on the cross. At his crucifixion, Jesus accomplished his task of bearing our sins and being stricken on our behalf. Having completed the task of carrying our sins and offering himself for our atonement, he yielding his life for that purpose. That’s what was finished at the crucifixion.
The Day of God’s Judgment, putting down the wicked, establishing the Messianic Kingdom, etc. will not be fulfilled until Jesus’ second-coming. Only then will there be a complete and literal fulfillment of all things that have been prophesized and written.
From Start to Finish
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but, whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
(Matthew 5:17-20)
Jesus began his earthly ministry by calling his disciples and giving his Sermon on the Mount. Right at the outset of his ministry, to avoid any confusion about his plan and his purpose, Jesus established the following principles:
1. He did not come to overthrow, abolish, or nullify anything written in the Law and the Prophets.
2. He did come to carry out, to put into practice, and to fully teach everything written in the Law and the Prophets.
3. No portion of the Law, not even the seemingly smallest and insignificant instructions of God, will pass away until the following conditions are met:
a) Heaven must pass away
b) Earth must pass away
c) Everything written in the Law and the Prophets must be completed
4. Anyone who casts off even the least of God’s instructions and commandments, and teaches other to do the same, will be least in the Kingdom of Heaven.
5. Anyone who practices even the least of God’s instructions and commandments, and teaches other to do the same, will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
6. We must do better than the Pharisees, who added-to and nullified The Law with their man-made doctrines and traditions.
If we understand Jesus’ stated purpose in his ministry then we should have no confusion about what he meant at the end of his ministry. At the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, heaven and earth had not passed away and all things written in the Law and the Prophets had not been completed. So, Jesus’ death on the cross could not have been for the purpose of terminating the “Old Testament”.
The passing away of the old heaven and earth, and the completion of all things written in the Law and the Prophets, will not happen until the End of the Age. Until then, no portion of The Law will pass away and we still await Messiah’s fulfillment of the remaining prophecies.
